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Judge Henry Seckman was born in Prussia in 1838, and is a prominent 
farmer and stock raiser of Rock Township.  He is the only surviving
child born to Mority and Elizabeth Seckman, who came to New Orleans
in 1840, from there to Warren County, Mo., and one year later settled
in Washington, Franklin County, where the father died, about 1852. 
The mother died at the home of her son Henry, in Jefferson County,
about 1881.  The father was a carpenter by trade.  Henry Seckman was
educated at the Washington schools, and also spent two years at the
public schools in St. Louis.  From 1875 he served five years as an 
apprentice at stair building, which he followed from that time until
1871 on his own responsibility, meeting with good success, doing work
in Kansas, Indiana, Tennessee, Missouri and other States.  In 1861 he
enlisted in Company A, of Fremont's Body Guard, and served until November 

of the same year, participating in the battle of Springfield. In 1863 he 

married Miss Elizabeth Reckman, a native of Galena, Ill., and the daughter 

of Francis and Mary Reckman.  Her father was a native of Switzerland, who 

came to the United States when a young man, was married in St. Louis but 

afterward moved to Galena, Ill., where he passed his last days. The mother 

then returned to St. Louis, and here died in 1862.  Seven children was the 

result of Mr. Seckman's marriage five of whom are now living: William, a 

carpenter of St. Louis; Viola, Frank, Warren and Edward.  In 1884 Mr. 

Seckman was elected county judge of the First District and re-elected in 

1886, with a greatly increased majority, being the first Republican to 

hold that office for a good many years.  He is a man of good judgement and 

ability, and an earnest worker for the welfare of the county and of the 

Republican party.  His first presidential vote was for Lincoln.  He is a 

member of the Masonic fraternity.